Folding machine



c. w. BRENN 1,805,161

FOLDING MACHINE. A

Filed Nov. 14,v 1928 e sheets-sheet 1 [NVE/WOR;- (arl Wrenn) BY ATT NEY lllli ||I dlllll l May12, 1931.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR.

C. W. BRENN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1928 May l2, 1931.

May l2, 1931. c. w. BRENN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 12, 1931. c. w. BRENN FOLDING MACHINE iled Nov. 14. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 12, 1931. c. w. B RENN 1,805,161

' FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1928 6 sheets-smet 5 INVENTOR. CUZ Wr n,

A ORNEY a3 i2, 1931. c. W. BRENN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nw. 14, 192s 6 Sheets-Shaq?, 6

IN V EN TOR. Card Wren Patented May 1a, 1931 1,865,161

' y CAR-L EBENE-l, Gl? MONTCLAIR, NEVI JERSEY EGB-DING MACE-11N" E Application led November 14, 3.92S, Serial No. 319,315.

This invention relates to folding fabric While a creaser engages the web to fold it strips, and more particularly to means for over the gaging' device and sharply crease folding in Zig-zag fashion paper strips for it Where the fold occurs. The mode of opuse in manifolding machines. eration of the folding device of the present 5 Such paper strips usually consist of a invention is radically different from that of 55 succession of printed forms or tickets bethe gripper and tucker type known to the tween each tivo of Which is provided a line art of folding, for in the latter paper is of perforations. The strips are folded in drawn from both directions, that is to say .Zig-Zag fashion for use in manifolding inaahead of and behind the folder When the le chines and it is imperative that the folds tucker forces the paper into the gripper to 60 occur directly on the lines of perforations, make the fold, and hence the paper cannot for, should the folds be located either ahead be held tight or taut from either side of the or behind the lines of perforations, difficulty tuckei. With the gaging creaser of this is frequently encountered in the manifoldinvention, one side of the fold may be and ing machine incidental to the operaJ tion of is firmly held stationary with the line of G severing one form or ticket from the neXt. fold in a predetermined position during the Moreover, when tie folds do not lie directfolding operation, and this position being ly on the lines of perforations, the pile of definite may be accurately controlled by the zig-zag forms is liable to pitch, that is it feeding mechanism.

may lea-n in one direction or the other, and According to this invention as illustrated hence assume over-all dimensions too great herein, the gage and gripper are used only to properly it in the mElCllileto form the folds extending in one direction, Although several attempts have been made yet a duplicate of such means may be used heretofore to fold such continuous manifor he folds of the other direction, if defolding Strips in Zig-Zag faSlliOl by 11121- sired. However, since the latter folds are 75 chine, these have not been successful due to easily formed when the former folds are the difficulty in causing ythe folds to occur properly made and hdd, it, has been found directly on the lines of perforations between that Simply pressing out the loop formed in forms. Hence, it has been and still is the the web is Sucom to properly form these 3G custom to fold the strips by hand. other folds. S0

it is an iHlpOltaDt ObjeC Of hiS DVGl- Therefore, in the machine disclosed heretien to provide a folding machine which Will in, the right-hand folds (as viewed) are elccumly and Properly fold Printed and formed by the gage device and creaser,

Pnf'aifl Papel' S'PS` S0 'that the folds Wm While the left-hand folds (again as viewed) be beaded invrably directly ppn the fines are formed by a brush adapted to travel Of peroftlons. This 1S accomphshed by th@ over the looped portion of the Web and press present mvemlon by acqufatefy and posl' it down so that the Web creases along the tiveli,7 controlling the position of the paper -1- f f tb stri i nt the time of fodin0V bf suitable me o per 01.3" lons' 40 u p i if C 5 Other ancillary and equally important means, and tnen engaging the papel strip L 1, ,1 ma es will heremdfte by means which Will cause the strip to @mures am awa g L break-down at its Weakest points, namely appear' 1 1 h along the lines of perforations, and become In the accompanyulg firilwmgs Wlfc creased shovs7 one form of the invention and which To do this, the present invention provides 211'@ fiemplmfy thGlfQOf a5 accurate feed mechanisml (or, When the fold- Flgule l is a side vien7 of the delivery er is used in direct conjunction With a printend of a printing press showing the present ing press, the feeding mechanism of the invention mounted thereon.. press) and provides for holding the vweb on Fig. 2 is a sectional side view showing the 59. the line ofperforations by a gaging device folding mechanism with the parts `111 the polo?? sitions they occupy just after the right-hand fold has been formed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the positions they occupy during the continuation of the feed f the paper, the gage bar having been retracted.

Fig. et is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, and shows the position -of the parts when feeding of the web has been completed and before the left-hand fold is formed.

Fig. 5 is like Fig. 4t, but shows the brush in operation for forming one left-hand fold.

Fig. 6 shows the left-hand fold as having been formed and creased.

Fig. 7 shows the left-hand and right-hand folds as having just been released by the table and spring fingers after the completion of the folds and the folding plate in position to hold the web for the formation of the next right-hand fold.

Fig. S is a transverse sectional view of the folding device taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the gage plate and creaser plate showing them in cooperating positions.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the portion of the frame work showing the driving connection between the main drive shaft of the press and the folding mechanism.

Fig. 12 is an edge view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11, and showing the printing press frame and folder frame in section.

The device of the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is adapted'for use with printing presses having a n intermittent feed and is shown as being attached to the end 10 of the frame 11 of a printing press (see Fig. 1) in which the feed rollers 12 are driven by a gear 13 through a ratchet device of usual construction, not shown. The gear 13 is oscillated by a segment 1st pivoted at l5 having an arm 16 connected with a pitman 17 carried by a face plate 1S driven by the power shaft 19 which runs longitudinally of the printing press frame and which is shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

The press is of the all size type, that is to say it prints forms of arious lengths, and hence the intermittent operation of the press is arranged to be universally varied between maximum and minimum limits. For this purpose, the pitman 17 has a connection 20 to the face plate 18 which is adjustable radially of the face plate, so that the length of throw of the segment 14: for each revolution of the face plate may be varied, it being understood that the ratchet connection, which is not shown, between the gear 13 and the feed rollers 12, permits retrograde movement of the segment 14 on the back stroke of the pitman, independently of the feed rollers.

As stated above, it has long been considered impracticable to provide for transversely folding the printed web in conjunction with an all size printing press, for the reason that separate grippers and tuckers of the known types of folding devices would have to be provided for each of a number of standard size forms. In the business of printing continuous manifolding strips, there are 6 or 7 standardized sizes which would require the provision of 6 or 7 separate gripper and tucker arrangements, only one of which, of course, could be used at a time and the rest of which would be idle and hence unproductive, representing a loss in capital invest-ment and space.

By the present invention, however, it has been found to be feasible to provide a folding device for an all size printing press, and this folding device, instead of operating on the gripper and tucker principle, operates to cause the fold to occur in a predetermined place in the web under the sole control of the feeding means which being, as it is, sufficiently accurate for feeding the forms, is just as sufliciently accurate for determining the folding position of the web. Hence, it is positively assured that the fold will always occur at that predetermined point and this is extremely important, for the fold should occur at the junction of two adjacent forms, particularly when that junction is defined by a line of perforations or other weakening arrangements to facilitate severance of the web into sheets, as when being.

used in a manifolding machine.

It will thus be seen that accurate feeding means, whether considered part of a press or part of the folding machine, forms a part of the present invention, for, as stated, it is by the feeding means that the line of fold is determined.

One of the salient features, which has resulted in accomplishing the objects of the present invention, is the provision of separate means for producing the right and left hand folds in the web, the points of fold being in both eases positively controlled by the feeding means. Another is the provision of means for variably controlling the device to accommodate forms of all sizes. This latter is accomplished by mounting the folding device in a frame 21 which is adjustably mounted on the extension 10 of the printing press frame 11, as will hereinafter appear.

As stated, the web is intermittently advanced by the feed rollers 12. After leaving the latter, the web 22, which has been printed and which has been provided with a longitudinal series of transversely disposed lines of perforations 23 by a perforating device 24 (see Fig. 1), passes over a paper table fixed in the folding device fra-me 21 and from the paper table 25 the webl22fv reaches to a ledger bar 2G, also fixed directly above the line of perforations 23 when in operative position. This situation is shown in Fig. 7, and exists at a point in the operation of the printing press when the feed mechanism is idle and the printing, punching and perforating units of trie printing press are operating, at which time, of course, the paper does not travel.

As soon as the feed mechanism begins again. to operate, the web starts to form loop 29 (see Fig. 2) lying over the surface of the plate 27, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. At this time, a creasing bar 3G is caused tomove in the direction of web travel from a position shown in Fig. 7, wl ere is located beneath the plane of the table 25,

ledger bar 26 and the web, upwardly and t0 the left as viewed and over the top of the plate 27, with a result that the web the line of perforations, that is, at the point where the edge 28 of the plate 27 is located, is folded over and reased. rlhis creasing action is very easily accomplished and does not require a great deal of pressure beca-use of the weakened condition of the web by 4the line of perforations, and a slight urge in the folding direction will cause the web to be easily folded on the line of perforations.

So far as some of the aspects of the in vention are concerned, this creasing bar is all that is needed to engage the web at the fold. However, since the operations ofthe machine are expedited by the withdrawal of the plate 27 as soon as possible to an outof-the-way position, the creasing bar 30 is provided with clamping fingers 3l which, in operative position, engage the folded web directly above notches 32 in the gage plate 27 (see Fig. 9) to hold the` web rigidly aga-inst the ledger bar 28, as shown in Fig. 2 independently of the folding plate 27. immediately upon the conclusion ofthis operation, the plate 27 is withdrawn from between tlie fold 33' and `moved to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to accomplish its movement above referred to, the plate 27 is mounted on arms 4 secured to discs 35, which in turn are fastened toa shaft 36 having bearings in the side platesBT: of the frame. 2l. @ne of these discs is provided with a pawl 38 adapt* ed to engage a ratchet tooth 39 Garriedby a gear 40 rotatably mounted on. the Shaft 36 and confined against lateral motion between the disc 35 and the bearingin the side plate 37 of the frame. The gear 40 meshes with a rack 4l mounted on guides 42-in the frame and having at its lower end; a link 43 connected to lever 44 secured on a` shaft 45' pivoted in the sidel platesy 37 of the frame. The end of the lever 44 opposite tovthat at which the link 33V is` connected is provided with a roller 4'6 for engaging a cam bar 47 adapted to reciprocate in the direction of the travel of the web, that is longitudinally of the machine.

lllhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig.v 2, with the loop 29 partly formed and the gagel plate 27 in operative position holdingV the web against the ledger bar- 25, the roller 46 lies in a dwell 48 in the cam bar 47 The cam bar 47 is connected to the power shaft ofthe press in the manner hereinafter described, so that immediately after this condition exists, the cam bar L moves to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and causes the roller to be depressed andthe rack 4l to be raised. The ratio between, the movements of the rack 4l and gear 40 is suchk hat the plate 2.7 is movedf 180V degrees, that is to say tothe position shown inY Fig. 3. rThe rack is caused to descend and the roller rises when the latter is. located under the dwell 48 in the, cam bar 47 by means of a spring 49 connected to the leverm44 and anchored on the frame of the machine.

The movement of the creasing bar 3.0 to and from operative position is also controlled by the cambar 47. For this pur pose,A the creasing bar 30 is carried by a pair of arms 50 secured to a shaft 51 and having a roller; 52 located in the path of a cam 53 carried' by the cam bar 47 `When the cam 53 engages theroller 52, it rocks the arm 50 clockwise so as` to withdraw the creasing bar 30 from its operative position shown in Fig, 2 to its inoperative position, where it is located below the plane of the path of the web as shown in Fig. 7. The creasing bar remains in this position until the roller 52' rides down the incline on the cam 53, at which time springs 54 connected to the arms 50 and anchored on the ledger bar cause the arms 50 to move counterclockwise.

The creasing bar30 is secured to an angle bar 55 pivotally mounted at 56 on the arms 50 and' is urged to move downwardly by reasony ofthe provision of springs 57 between the angle bar 55k and the arms 50. Then the arms 50 are rocked clockwise, the creasing bar 30, after it leaves the fold 33 in the web, rides down an incline 58 on the ledger bar and remains in a substantially horizontal lli) position below the path ofthe web. Thisis an important feature of the present invention, for the creasing bar with its spring lingers 31 forms a continuation of the table so as to prevent any draping of the web from the bight of the feed rollers 12 to the ledger bar. lhen the arms are permitted so to do by the cam 53 at the proper time, the spring 54 pulls the creasing bar 30 in the direction of web travel with the result that it rides up the incline 58 pushing the web upwardly and then creasing it over the gage plate to form the fold 33, yielding upwardly as permitted by the springs 57 in this opera.- tion.

The creasing bar 80 is provided with a rectangular opening 59 into which the clamping fingers 3l extend. These fingers are comparatively stiff and have a firm gripping action on the folded web. Due to the provision of the notches 32 in the plate 27, the fingers 3l actually bear down on the fold before the gage plate 27 is withdrawn from the fold. The ends of the fingers 3i never extend below the creasing bar 30 and hence do not engage the web until the latter has been folded by the creasing bar.

The manner of operating the cam bar i7 will be described below. Sullice it to say at this point that after the parts described above assume the position shown in Fig. et,

which is accomplished at the very beginnng of the feeding operation of the rollers l2,

they remain in these positions during the feeding of the form A which has been pr vided with the fold 33, and also during the feeding of the next adjacent form B.

After the feeding of the form B is concluded and while the printing and perforating units of the press are functioning, the fingers 31 and the creasing bar 30 are withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 7 to permit the web to be released, so that the fold 33 may drop off the ledger bar and allow the end of the overlying form B to rest directly upon the ledger bar. Due to the accurate control of the web 22 by the feeding means, the line of perforations 23 between the forms B and C is in exactly the right position on the ledger bar, so that when the folding plate 27 is swung down (which is done as soon as the creasing bar 30 and fingers 3l have been withdrawn), the edge 28 of the gage plate 27 will lie on the line of perforations Then the feeding operation is resumed, the form C starts to make a loop 2l) and the creasing bar 30 again operates to make another right-hand fold 33 in the web, whereupon the lingers 3l hold the web in creased condition on the ledger bar.

Then the right-hand fold 33 leaves the ledger bar 26, the folded web falls in a pile 60- on a supporting table 6l carried by the end 10 of the frame 1l.

It has been found in practice that the right-hand folds produced by the gage plate 27 and the creasing bar 30 are suflicient to produce the zig-zag folded pile 60, for the left-hand fold 62 may be produced by the weight of the other forms which follow it and finally rest upon it. Even if the weight of the forms were not sufficient to produce a sharp crease at the left-hand fold 62, this may be done from time to time by the operator pressing down the pile by hand.

However, to produce these left-hand folds G2 in the machine so that no hand-operation is needed and for other purposes, the present invention provides a carriage 63 adapted to ride in tracks 64- on the side plates 37 of the folding device frame 2l and having mounted thereon a pressing brush 65. At the beginning of the feeding operation, that is when the loop 29 is being formec., the brush G5 is located in position adjacent the ledger bar as shown in Fig. 3, and is also elevated above the plane of the loop 29, while a table 66 which is mounted on the carriage 63 has its end located adjacent the ledger bar, so that the loop 29 may extend over onto the table 66, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, during the continuation of the feeding of the web.

The brush extends transversely of the web 22 and is secured to a shaft 67 journaled in vertically extending arms 68 on the carriage G3. lie shaft 67 also has secured to its levers 69 to each of which is connected a link 70 whose lower end is connected to an arm 7l. Both arms 7l are secured to a shaft 72 mounted in arms 7 3 secured to the carriage 63. One of the arms 7l is in the form of a bell-crank and has another arm 74 to which the cam bar 4:7 is pivotally connected at 75. In the idle position of the cam bar 4:7, that is te say the position shown in Fig. 8, the arms 69 of the brush structure engage stop pins 7G mounted in the arms 68 in which position the brush 65 is elevated above the plane of the loop 29. The parts assume these positions until the loop 29 is completely formed as shown in Fig. 4, that is to say when the feeding operation of form B has been concluded. Then, during the printing operations of the press, the cam bar i7 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. l. The lirst thing that occurs is that the cam bar 47, through the bellcrank 71--7-1, rocls the shaft 72 and causes the links 70 to be raised. rl`his causes the brush 65 to be rot-ated so as to move downwardly againstthe form B until movement of the brush is limited by the engagement of arms 77, integral with the arms 69, with the stop pins 7G. Continued movement of the cam bar causes the brush and carriage to be moved toward the left to press down the form B on the form A and slide along the surface of form B until the end of the loop is reached, during which operation the web is caused to crack along the line of perforations 23 and be sharply creased the 'ian 'ible 'to permit this.

downward pressure Kof the 'brush thereagainst.

ln -F ig. 5, the brush is shown in a position intermediate its `liinits of travel, while in F ig. 6 the brush is shown as having just passed over the 4fold 62.

At this point in the cycle of operations, the folded rforms A. and 'B at their ends adjacent their folds 62 Amay slip 'off the end of the table 66 if the web is sufliciently flexlflowever, whether it does so or not -is immaterial, for upon further movement of the carriage, the end of the table is -moved beyond the yfold 62 and the folded forms A and i5 are allowed to drop onto the pile supported by the table 6l. At `the same time that this is being done, the fingers 81 and the creasing bar 30 are being withdrawn to permit release of the fold 83 at the beginning of the form A,

and .in Fig. 7 `vboth these koperations are -assumed to have been Completed and the forms A Vand B are-shownrin the act of falling onto the pile 60. :Before the feeding operation is `again resumed, the gage plate 27 is brought down into position on the ledger' bar. This gage plate is so shaped as to have a slight wiping action on the web before it reaches Aits final position so as to draw the web taut between the ledger bar and the feed rollers l2. The weight of the web depending from the ledger bar 26 should be sufficient to do this, but the wiping action is provided to insure this taut condition of the web so that the pointlof 'fold will be controlled solely :by the feed mechanism.

l-norder that the functions of the various parts of the folding machine might be betcured to a shaft 8l to which isf-also secured an varm 82 connected by a link 83 'to a lever 84 which carries between its ends a cam following roller 85. The roller 85 rides in a track l86 which is heart-shaped 'in a cam-disk 87 Vrotatably mounted on a stud 88 carried by the side plate 37 of the folding device. The cam is driven through a pin or bolt 89 by a bevel O'ear 90, also rotatably mounted on the stud sha-ft 88, and adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 91 splined on the shaft i9 Which, it will be remembered, is a power shaft :running Vlongitudinally of the press and by means'of which the various Vunits Vof the press, that is the feeding means and the p inting ,mea-ns, are operated in Vproper vcoordination. In the press to which this 'device is applied, the main drive shaft 19 makesone revolution for each complete cycle of operations of the press to print one form, and in about one half a revolution the-shaft 19 operates vthe printing instrumentalities and inthe other half revolution operates the feeding mechanism.

Since the cycle of the folding machine is 'equivalent to two cycles o the printing press, the ratio between the gear 87 and the gear 91 is two to one, so that the cam 87 maires one revolution for each two operations of the press. rllhetraclr 86 is so formed in the'cam disk-87 that the lever 84 carrying the roller 85 is oscillated once in each revolution thereof. This oscillation of the lever 84, through the link v88, arms 82 and 80 and linl; 79, causes the cam bar 47 to travel longitudinally of the folding machine. The cam traclr 86 is so arranged that the cam bar 47 is fully retracted before the loop 29 has'had an opportunity to become too large. rlhis retracted position of the cam bar -is shown in Fig. 3, 'at which time the gage plate 27 is elevated and the creasing bar-30 and the fingers 3l are in operative position. The cam bar remains in tliisposition due to 'the fact that the roller 85 rides infa concentric portion of the `cam during the remaining portion of the feeding operation of the form A after the loop -29 is started and the fold 38 formed and until-the loop 29 is about completed by the feeding of rthe form AB. At this time', the roller 35 vrides into the dwell in the cam track 86 and causes the cam bar' 47 to be moved outwardly, first rocking the brush to voperative position as shown in F ig. 5.

As the brush reaches lthe fold 62 of the web, the roller 46 on 1the lever 44 controlling the rack A4l is permitted to dr p into the dwell 48 in the cam bar, so that it is in position to be engaged by the incline 92 on the cam bar to again move the rack up when the brush and its carriage moves from the position shown in Fig. A6 to Ithe position shown in F ig. 7. Since the folds 62 have then been formed, the fold 33 may be released, and this is `accoirmlished by the incline 93 on the cam 58 engaging the roller 52 on the arm 50 which carries the gripping fingers 3l and creaser bar 30 to withdraw the latter.

Thus it will'be seen that during the movement of the cam bar 47 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the gripping fingers 61 and'creaser bar 80 are withdrawn just before 'the vgage Aplate 27 is brought down upon the end of the form B. rlhis occurs while the feeding mechanism is idle and during the roperation of the printing mechanism. As soon as 'the feeding mechanism begins again to operate, the roller 85 rides up out of the dwell in the cam track 86 and starts the retr'acting movement of the cam bar 47. However, before the carriage can move back with the cam bar, the brush is rocked upwardly out of the way by its link connection 70 until the arms G9 engage the pins 78, as shown in Fig. 2, because the resistance offered by the rotation of the brush is less than that offered by the carriage.

During this initial retracting movement of the cam bar, the roller 52 rides down the incline 93 on the cam 53 and permits the spring 54 to move the creaser bar 30 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to form the fold 33. At the same time or rather shortly before this occurs, the roller 46 moves into the dwell 48 in the cam bar so as to move the rack 4l downwardly and get it in position to operate. After the lingers 31 have gripped the fold 33, the roller 4G is forced out of the dwell 48 causing the rack to move upwardly and rotate the gage plate ,27 one half a revolution, that is to say to the position shown in Fig. 3, where it too is out of the way of the advancing loop 29. The continued movement of the cam bar 47 causes the carriage to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which it remains until the form being fed and the one following it is in position for the formation of the left-hand fold 62.

The gage plate 27 may be held in its operative and inoperative positions by any suitable means. In the accompanying drawings, this means comprises a detent pawl 94 pivoted at 95 and normally under pressure of the spring 96 which urges it into notches 97 in the disk 35 secured to the shaft 3G and carrying the folding bar 27.

The length of movement of the brush 65 and the table 66 is made sufficient to function with a form of maximum length capable of being printed in the press, and since the left-hand fold 62 is formed by the wiping or sweeping action of the brush 65, no adjustment or change in the mechanism need be made when the forms are less length, nor is it necessary to adjust the position of the ledger bar 26 and gage plate 27 when the device is used in presses of the type which permit adjustment of the printing instrumentalities, in which case the line of perforations 23 may be made to always come to rest in the same position irrespective of the length of the forms being printed.

Vhen, however, the printing press is not of this type, but has a stationary (not adjustable) printing head, the line of perforations 23 may come to rest when forms of different lengths are printed at various points within a zone equal to half the length of the maximum length forms. Yet,I they will, of. course, always repeatedly come to rest at the same place during the printing of a particular job.

Accordingly, to-permit the edge 28 of the gage plate 27 to be adjusted to exactly that position at which the line of perforations 23 happens to come to rest in each particular job, the folding device frame 21 is adjustably mounted on the printing press frame 11. For this purpose, the entire folding device frame 21 is adjustably mounted and has hangers 98 adapted to ride upon the upper edge 99 of the printing press frame 'f 10, see Figs. 1 and 12. lVhen adjusted to the proper position, the folding frame 21 `may be locked against accidental movement by bolts 100 sliding in slots 101 in the frame 10 and carried by the folding frame 21.

1n order to facilitate the adjusting movement of the folding frame 21, the latter is provided with an adjusting shaft 102 carrying gears 103 meshing width racks 101, one located at each side of the machine. shaft has a square head 105 to receive a socket wrench or key by means of which the frame 21 may be moved longitudinally of the frame 10. To further steady and support the folding frame 21 on the printing press frame 10, screws 106 are provided in the hangers 98 so as to clamp against the rack 104.

Buring this adjustment, the driving gear 91 moves with the folding machine frame, for it is confined betwen the bevel gear 90 and a stop collar 107 carried by the frame 21. Yet, it is always connected to rotate with the power shaft 19 because a spline 108, which it carries, rides in the longitudinal groove 109 in the shaft.

Thus it will be seen that in setting up a job, the only attention that needs to be paid to the folding device is to see that edge 28 of the gage plate 27 lies directly upon the line of perforations 23, which is accomplished by the longitudinal adjustment of the frame 21.

In order that the gap which must be provided between the ledger bar 20 and the feed rollers 12 to permit adjustment of the folding device may be kept closed in all positions of the latter, the table 25 is made in two parts 25a and 25?) telescoping with each other, the part 25a being carried by and secured to the frame 21, while the part 25?) is secured to the frame 12a carrying the feed rolls 12.

It will be remembered that the folding device operates during only one half of the rotation of the cani disk 87, and consequently only once during two revolutions of the power shaft. 1n order that the folding device may start to operate during either revolution of the shaft, the pin or bolt 89 is movable so that it can be withdrawn from the hole 89a in the disk 87, whereupon the disk 87 may be rotated by hand onehalf revolution to align the pin 89 with another hole 89?) diametrically opposite the This ETA

first mentioned hole 89?) in the cam disk 87 while the vgears 9() and 91 are not rotating.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used 'without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is rdesired to obtain Letters Patent, is

l. A machine for folding a strip of fabric of indefinite length to form a zig-zag folded pile `comprising a gage plate held stationary in a predetermined .posit-ion during the folding operation; and web-advancing means operative to cause the web intermittently to stop with a line of fold thereon located in the said predetermined position.

2. A machine for folding a strip of fabric of indefinite length to form a zig-zag folded pile comprising means for intermittently advancing the web form-length intervals; and a gage plate held stationary during the folding operation and adapted to lie upon the web at the place thereof where the fold is to occur.

'3. A machine for folding strip of fabric of indefinite length to form a ziz-zag folded pile comprising web-advancing means to intermittently operate to feed the web formlength intervals and adapted to maintain control'of the web between feeding operations, said web-advancing means comprises a variable throw device whereby the extent of advancement may be varied to feed webs having formsv of different lengths; a gage plate along which ythe web is folded; and means for adjusting the .normal operative position of the gage plate to permit the latter to be iocat d at that point in the path of the web where the junction of two adjacent forms lies at the end of the feeding operation.

la An all size folding machine having associated therewith variable-tlir w web advancing means; and means in the path of the web and acting on the web while under the control of said web-advancing Vmeans for folding the web to produce a zig-zag folded pile,'said means having a fixed throw of sufficient length to fold the web irrespective of the length of throw of the web-advancing means.

opi/5in all size folding machine having associated 'therewith variable-throw web-advancing' means; and means in the path of the web and acting on the web while under the control of said web-advancing means for folding the web to produce a zig-zag folded pile, said means having a fixed throw of sufficient length to fold the web irrespective of the length of throw of the webadvancing means, the positions of both righthand and left-hand folds in the web being controlled solely by the `Web-advancing means.

6. A folding machine for use with printing presses having vassociated therewith web-advancing and controlling means and comprising means for' folding fa web of indenite length printedby said printing press so as to form a zig-zag folded pile; and vvoperating connections between the said press and said folding means adapted to produce one cycle ofvoperations of the folding means for each two cycles of operations of the rese.

7. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the ypath of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted -to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon fand to deter mine the line of fold; and web-advancing means for moving the web so that the 'line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate.

8. A folding machine for producing vfrom a continuous web a zigzag `folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path Eof the web .and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar .to hold the web in .predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; and a crcaser bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate 'to produce a fold in the web.

9. li. folding machine for producing from a continuons web a Azig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar; located in the path of the Aweb and over which the web is adapted to travel' a (ya e late ada )ted to coooerate 3 D l Y with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon `and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a lcreaser bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate to Vproduce a fold in the web.; and spring fingers for engaging the web at the fold thus formed by thecreaser bar to hold the web against the ledger bar independent-- ly of said gage plate. Y

l0. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and' to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that lthe line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser bar adapted to fold'said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web; spring fingers for'engaging the web at the fold-thus formed Aby the cr'easer bar to hold the web 11. A folding machine for producing from y a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel' a awe Jlate ada )todito coo 3era-te ai) v :a a:

with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that t 1e line of fold j lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate to produce a fold inithe web; si ring lingers for engaging the web at the fold thus formed by the creaser bar to hold the web o against the ledger bar independently of said gage plate; means for withdrawing the plate from between the fold produced by the creaser bar whereby the fold is held to the ledger' bar solely by the spring lingers; and

g5 a table upon which the web is supported as the web continues to advance after the told has been produced by the creaser bar to support the loop just formed in substantially horizontal position.

- 12. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar; located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate S with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser 0 bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web; and a table upon which the web is supported as the web continues to advance after the Jfold has been produced by the creaser bar to sup- 5 port the loop just formed in substantially horizontal position.

13. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zigezag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to holdthe web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web; spring fingers for engaging the web at the o0 fold thus formed by the creaser bar to hold the web against the ledger bar independently of said gage plate; means for withdrawing the gage plate from between the fold produced by the creaser bar whereby the fold 35 is held to the ledger bar solely by the sp 1ing lingers; a table upon which the web is supported as the web continues to advance after the fold has been produced by the creaser bar to support the loop just formed in sul stantially horizontal position; and means adapted to engage the loop supported by the table to produce in the web a fold opposite in direction to that produced by the creaser bar.

14. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledgerJ bar to hold the web in predetermined posit-ion thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser bar adapted to fold said web over said gage plate te produce a fold in the web; and means adapted to engage the loop resulting from further advance of the web after the formation of the fold to produce in the web a fold oppositeV in direction to that produced by the creaser bar.

15. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge ofthe gage plate; a. creaser bar adapted to fold said Web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web; means adapted to engage the loop supported by Ya table provided in its path of produce in the web a fold opposite in direction to that produced by the creaser bar; and means for withdrawing the table from under the web to permit the folded web to fall in a pile.

16. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zig-zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and overV which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in pre determined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; a creaser bar adapated to fold said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web; spring fingers for engaging the web at the fold thus formed by the creaser bar to hold the web against the ledger bar independently of said gage plate; and means for retracting the spring lingers to release the folded portion of the web supported by the ledger bar and permit the same to fall from the ledger bar so that the overlying unfolded portion of the webwniay rest directly thereon.

llO

tently advancing the strip predetermined lengtlis; means for producing folds of one hand while the strip is advancing; and separate means 'for producing folds ot the other hand during a period ot intermission between advancing n'iovements ot the strip.

A folding machine ttor producing from a continuous web a folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line or" told; web-advancing means for nioving the web so that the line ot fold lies at the edee ot the gage plate; means adapted to iolo. said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web7 said means including spring lingers for engaging the web at the 'fold thus termed to hold the web against The ledger bar inrlependently ot said gage plate.

Q7. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a Zig-Zag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path oi the web and over which the web is adapted to travel; a gage plate adapted to coope 'ate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line of fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; means adapted to told said web over said gage plate to produce a fold in the web, said means including spring fingers for engaging the web at the fold thus formed to hold the web against the ledger bar independentlyT ot said gage plate; and means for withdrawing the gage plate from between the fold produced by the said means whereby the fold is held to the ledger bar solely by the spring fingers.

28. A folding machine for producing from a continuous web a zigzag folded pile comprising a ledger bar, located in the path of the web and over which the web is adapted to travel.; a gage plate adapted to cooperate with the ledger bar to hold the web in predetermined position thereon and to determine the line of fold; web-advancing means for moving the web so that the line ot fold lies at the edge of the gage plate; means adapted to fold said web over said gage plate to produce a told in the web, said means including spring ngers tor engaging the web at the fold thus formed to hold the web against the ledger bar independently of said gage plate; means for withdrawing the gage plate 'from between the `fold produced by the said means whereby the fold is held to the ledger bar solely by the spring fingers; and a table upon which the web is supported as the web continues to advance after the told has been produced by the said means to support the loop just formed in substantially horizontal position.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, this 21st day of October, 1928.

CARL W. BRENN.

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